Congressman, Sandinista an Odd Couple at Chicago Dinner : Dornan Gives Ortega a Lesson on Image

In a face-off that mingled the improbable and the practical, conservative California Rep. Robert K. Dornan (R-Garden Grove) offered some image-polishing advice to Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega--and the Sandinista leader said he would take it.

Standing in the backyard patio of the Rev. Jesse Jackson’s home on Chicago’s South Side, the energetic anti-communist congressman and the Marxist leader, who Dornan has repeatedly vilified, held what amounted to a seminar Saturday night on U.S. politics and public relations.

Dornan’s point, driven home with his characteristic rapid-fire style, was that Ortega should not become too closely connected with U.S. liberals as he continues his American tour, designed to rally opinion against the Reagan Administration’s support for anti-Sandinista rebels .

“Your itinerary is very important,” Dornan said. “You should address the World Affairs Council . . . so (the trip) doesn’t stink of radical chic.”

‘Avoid Donahue’

“We have an interest in reaching (conservative) senators,” Ortega responded. “How do we do it?”

A pitfall to avoid, replied Dornan, is the Phil Donahue television show. “There’s no enhancing dialogue (with conservatives) by showing up with a boot-licking wimp like Donahue,” Dornan counseled.

But it turned out the damage had already been done, Ortega having appeared on Donahue’s program some time ago.

Jackson was Ortega’s host through the day, and invited him to dinner for a session with reporters. Jackson opposes President Reagan’s $100-million military and economic aid package to the Nicaraguan rebels, known as contras, which has been approved by the House. The Senate has yet to vote on it.

Casting himself as mediator in the confrontation between the Managua government and Washington, Jackson seemed content to take a back seat at his own dinner as Dornan and Ortega exchanged views.

“You can’t make headway unless you meet with conservatives, let them hammer on you and you hammer back and then maybe we’ll get somewhere,” Dornan said as Jackson asked his guests into the dining room.

At Opposite Ends

Dornan and Ortega sat at opposite ends of the table, with Jackson standing nearby as reporters and members of Ortega’s entourage, which included his wife, Rosario Murillo, and a translator, filled in around the table.

Ortega stared at Dornan down the table.

“I think your position is correct,” Ortega told Dornan. “To be frank, we have not given thought, as much attention as we should have” to talking with conservative supporters of Reagan, the Nicaraguan added.

“Maybe trying to blame each other doesn’t take us anywhere,” Ortega said. “What can we do from here to find solutions? Because aggravation is neither in the interests of the United States or Nicaragua. But as we see no way out, and not even a dialogue between governments, the tendency becomes more (aggressive). That’s why we consider very important contacts we may develop with conservatives.”

When Dornan, a former Air Force pilot, criticized Managua’s use of Soviet-made weapons, Ortega said the Sandinistas had first sought U.S. military equipment in their battle against dictator Anastasio Somoza. “But we couldn’t get any,” he said. “The Carter Administration offered (only) some uniforms, boots . . . so we have sought arms from countries willing to supply us.”

Cuban Role Explained

While acknowledging that Cuban instructors have trained Sandinista soldiers to use Soviet-made weapons, Ortega denied Dornan’s assertion that Cubans pilot the Sandinistas’ Soviet-made assault helicopters.

“Every helicopter is piloted by Nicaraguans,” he said. Ortega added that “the number of Cuban instructors is steadily decreasing. (Their) total is not more than 500.”

Dornan said he doubts that Reagan “has ever heard the other side.” He promised Ortega that he would attempt to arrange a face-to-face meeting of the two leaders.

Jackson offered a prayer for peace, and Dornan and Ortega bade each other goodby.